Rotary ditching-machine.



D. & M. c. WILLIAMS. ROTARY DITCHINGMACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1ULY13.1914.

1,11 83,706. 'Patented May 16, 1916.v

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

D. B. & M. C. WILLIAMS.

ROTAI'IY DITCHING MACHINE.

lAPPLICATION FILED JULY I3, 1914. 1 ,1 83,706. Patented May 16, 1916.

' l 4 $HEETSSHEIT 2.

D. B. & Ma C. WlLLlAMS.

ROTARY DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mm 1uLY13,1914.

l ,l 83,796. Patented May 16, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH `C0.. WASHINGTON, n. C.

D. B. L M. c. WILLIAMS.

ROTARY DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1ULY1311914- 1,183,706. Patented May/16, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

1HE COLUMBM PLANQGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. c.

DOUGLAS B. WILLIAMS AND MOSES C. WILLIAMS, 0F JOLTESBORO, ARKANSAS, ASSIGN- ORS OF ONE-THIRD T0 JESSIE E'. ROY, OF JONESBORO, `ARK'ANS'AS.

ROTARY DITCHING-MACHINE,

Application iled July 13, 1914.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we, DOUGLAS B. WIL- LIAMS and Mosns C. WILLIAMS, citizens of the United States, residing at Jonesboro, in the county of Craighead and State of `Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Ditching-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in excavating machines adapted for cutting ditches, trenches, canals or the like, while not necessarily restricted to this use.

An important object of the invention is to` provide a machine of the above mentioned character, which is adapted to operate in a continuous and expeditious manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above mentioned character, which is of simple construction, and convenient in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a pla-n view of a machine embodying the invention, Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view through the same, Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the machine, Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same, Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4, Fig. 6 isa similar view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4, Fig'. 7 is a front end elevation of the rotatable cutting element, and, Fig. 8 is a rear end elevation of the same.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of our invention, the numeral 10 designatesthe main support or body portion of the machine, having its opposite ends closed, as more clearly shown in Fig. `2. This body portion is provided preferably centrally thereof with an opening 11, for a purpose to be described.

Extending longitudinally of and above the body portion 10 is a preferably horizontally arranged driving shaft 12, journaled through suitable bearings 13, rigidly attached to transverse beams 14, carried by the body portion 10, as shown;

Rikgiflly mounted upon the forwardend Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

Serial No. 850,799.

of the driving shaft 12 for rotation therewith is a cutting element, designated as a whole by the numeral 15. This cutting element embodies a ring 16, rigidly attached to a circular disk or plate 17. As more clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 7, and S, the ring 16 is provided with openings 18, and adjacent these openings with outwardly extending inclined blades 19, which serve to cut an opening in the ground slightly larger than the diameter of the cutting element, so that this element will work freely. The disk 17, as more clearly shown in Fig. 7, is provided with outer and inner openings 20'and 21. Angularly arranged forwardly projecting blades 22 are secured to the disk adjacent the openings 20 and similarly arranged forwardly projecting blades 23 are secured thereto adjacent the openings 21. As more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 8, a more or less spiral conveyer 24 is arranged within the cutting element 15 and is rigidly attached to the ring 16, as shown at 25, and to the shaft 12, as shown at 26. This conveyer 24 embodies transversely curved blades 27, bent outwardly toward their central portions and having their outer ends adjacent the central portions cut away to provide openings 28. The cutter 15 is rotated counter-clockwise. as indicated by the arrow, and the dirt which is loosened or cut by the blades moves into the ring 16 in advance of the rotatable spiral conveyer 24. This dirt when descending into the lower portion of the ring 1.6 passes rearwardly through each ring 28, as it is brought 'in the lower position and occupies a position rearwardly of the adjacent blade 27, to be Velevated thereby, upon the `further turning movement of the ring 16, for a purpose to be described. Arranged in advance of the rotatable cutter 15 is a pointed projecting member or cap 28', rigidly attached to the shaft 12, as shown.

The rotatable spiral conveyer 24 elevates the dirt or the like. as above stated. and discharges it into a trough 29, arranged in the forward end of the body portion 10, as r more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

The numeral 30 designates endless conveyers. having buckets 31. operating within the trough 29 to remove the dirt or the like therefrom and carrv itto a point remote 'from the trough. These conveyers may be "of any well known or preferred construction and no detailed description of the same will be given. The conveyers 30 are driven by horizontal shafts 32 arranged within the trough 29. The shafts 32 carry pinions or gears 33 rigidly mounted thereon, and which are in constant mesh, causing the conveyers to travel upwardly in opposite directions. One shaft 32 is provided with a pinion or gear 34, rigidly mounted thereon, engaging a pinion or gear 35, which is rigidly mounted upon the driving shaft 12. It is thus apparent that the conveyers receive their motion from the shaft 12.

The shaft 12 may be driven by any suitable means, such as a pinion or gear 36, driven by an engine or the like `(not shown) arranged within the rear end of the main support or boat-hull l0.

The numeral 37 designates a transverse shaft, journaled through bearings 38 rigidly attached to the main support lor boat-hull 10. This shaft 37 is rotatable and pivotally supports vertically swinging approximately L-shaped arms 39, depending therefrom to enter the opening 11. These arms are provided at their rear ends with bearings 40 for rotatably receiving a shaft 41. The bearings 40 are provided with lateral extensions 42, having connection with rotatable adjusting screws 43, operating within screw-threaded openings formed through a transverse beam 44 rigidly attached to the boat-hull 10. Any suitable means may be employed to turn the screws 43, to vertically adjust the arms 39 by swinging them upon the shaft 37 as a pivot. j

Rigidly mounted upon theshaft 41 is a driving roll 45, preferably formed in two parts 46 and carrying upon their peripheries prongs or pointed projections 47. The roller parts 46 have their inner ends slightly spaced providing an opening for the reception of a gear or pinion 48, also rigidly mounted upon the shaft 41. This gear or pinion 48 is engaged by a gear or pinion 49 which is carried by a shaft 50, connected with the L-shaped arms 39, adjacent their apexes. The gear 49 receives its rotation from a smaller gear 51, which is rigidly mounted upon the shaft 37. This shaft 37 is driven by a friction pulley or Wheel 52, rigidly secured thereto. p

The numeral 53 designates a transverse driving shaft, having one end journaled within a stationary bearing 53. The opposite end of this shaft is journaled in an eccentrically pivoted bearing 54, attached to the boat-hull 10 by any suitable means. The shaft 53 carries a friction pulley or wheel 55 adapted to be moved'into operative contact with the pulley 52. The eccentrically pivoted bearing 54 is provided with an upstanding crank 56 rigidly attached thereto, and when this crank is swung'rearwardly,

the bearing 53 is turned upon its pivot tov Y move the pulley 55 into operative engagement with the pulley 52. The crank 56 is shifted by means of a pitman 57, pivotally connected with a manually operated swinging lever 58, provided with the usual latch mechanism to hold it in adjustment at the desired position. The shaft 53 receives its rotation from a gear 59 or the like, driven by an engine (not shown) which may be mounted in the forward portion of the boathull 10.

In order that there will be no tendency for the machine to unduly tilt laterally in either direction, the forward portion of the boat-hull is provided with openings 60, receiving guide wheels 61, pivotally mounted upon the angularly arranged ends of a shaft 62, held stationary within the hopper' 29 by any suitable means.

The steering mechanism for the machine embodies steering blades or strips 63, which are preferably formed of suitably stiff and resilient sheet metal having their forward ends rigidly attached tothe boat-hull 10, as shown at 64. These steering blades are normally angularly arranged with relation to the rear ends of the boat-hull and `diverge towardits rear end. Blades 63 are rigidly attached to the ends of a reciprocatory bar 64', operating through openings 65. This reciprocatory bar 64 operates within guides 66, secured to a vertically adjustable carriage 67. The guides 66 carry rollers 68, serving to prevent the upward movement of the bar 64. It might be stated at this point that when the carriage 67 is moved downwardly slightly it serves to hold or brace the' blades 63 against upward movement by j virtue of their contact with the wall of the trench being dug. Attached to the forward side of vthe bar 64 is a rack-bar 69, engaged by ay small pinion 70. This small pinion is rigidly mounted upon a vertical shaft 71 journaled through a suitable bearing, rigidly attached to the carriage 67. The vertical shaft 71 is turned by a large gear 72, receiving its motion from the small gear 73, which may be manually operated by any suitable means. It is obvious that by rotating the gear 73 the bar 64 can be moved in either rio direction, Eand one blade 63 moved toward i the boat-hull while the other bladev 63 is moved away from it. Themeans for vertically adjusting the carriage 467 embodies ver tical screws 74, having swiveled connection therewith, and screw-threaded engagement within openings formed through a bar 75. Any suitable means may be employed to rotate the adjusting screws 74.

The operation of the machine is as followszT-he rotation of the feed roller 45 serves to propel the machine forwardly, bringing the rotatable cutting element 15 in contact with the ground. -The blades 22 and 23 cut the ground in advance of the ,cutter igt and the blades 19 do this work upon the sides of the cutter. The dirt which is thus loosened or cut enters the ring 16, and is elevated and carried rearwardly by the spiral conveyer 27, to be dumped or discharged into the trough 29. Within this trough, the dirt is taken up by the buckets 3l, and carried to suitably remote point or points. It is obvious that the steering of the machine from right to left may be effected by laterally shifting the blades 63, as is apparent.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, we claim l. In a machine of the character described, a body portion, a movable cutting element carried by. the forward end thereof, steering blades connected with the opposite sides of the body portion near its rear end to extend longitudinally thereof and movable laterally with relation thereto, and means to substantially simultaneously laterally shift the steering blades.

2. In a machine of the character described, a body portion, a movable cutting element carried by the forward end thereof, steering blades connected with the opposite sides of the body portion near its rear end to extend longitudinally thereof and movable laterally with relation thereto, a transversely movable bar connected with the rear ends of the l blades to move them, and means to move the bar in opposite directions.

3. In a machine of the character described, a body portion, a movable cutting element carried by the forward end thereof, steering blades connected with the opposite sides of the body portion near its rear end to extend longitudinally thereof and movable laterally with relation thereto, a transversely movable bar connected with the blades, a vertically adjustable carriage for bracing the bar against upward movement, and means mounted upon the carriage to move the bar in opposite directions.

4. In a machine of the character described, a body portion, a movable cutting element carried by the body portion, steering blades arranged upon opposite sides of the body portion, a reciprocatory bar extending transversely of the body portion and connected with the steering blades to shift them laterally, means to e'ect the longitudinal movement of the reciprocatory bar, and means to brace the bar against upward movement.

5. In a machine of the character described, a body portion, a movable cutting element carried by the body portion, steering blades arranged upon the opposite sides of the body portion, a reciprocatory bar extending transversely of the body portion and connected with the steering blades to shift them laterally, guides receiving the bar, rollers interposed between the guides and portions of the bar, adjustable means to hold the guides against upward movement, a rack bar connected with the bar and extending longitudinally thereof, a pinion engaging the rack bar to move it longitudinally, and means to turn the pinion.

6. In a machine of the character described, a body portion, a movable cutting element carried by the forward end thereof, steering blades connected with the opposite sides of the boat-hull near its rear end to extend longitudinally thereof and movable laterally with relation thereto, a transversely movable bar connected with the blades, a vertically adjustable carriage connected with the bar and means mounted upon the carriage to move the bar in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

DOUGLAS B. WILLIAMS. MOSES C. WILLIAMS. Witnesses:

POWELL STAMPER, J. W. MAGKEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

